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The Cure Is Now Interviews Alyse Kenny about “It’s a Charity Thing”

The Cure Is Now recently had a fundraiser (link to the event flier) put together for us by a savvy and hilarious lady named Alyse Kenny. Alyse Kenny likes to make people laugh, likes to have fun and likes to give back…and all at once is even better. While getting her nails done back in January, Alyse noticed one of The Cure Is Now’s donation canisters in the nail salon. She promptly called the organization and asked if she could help raise money for us. It didn’t take much thought for the team to agree, and so together, Alyse and The Cure Is Now were on their way to their first “It’s a Charity Thing” together.

Keep reading for an interview with Alyse about “It’s a Charity Thing”, our night together, Alyse’s talent for making people laugh and her desire to help the world:

(Q) What got you started in Comedy, when was that?

(A) I started out as an actress and was living in Los Angeles – the blue-eyed, blonde-haired-actress capital of the world. And there was a lot of competition. I found it hard to get seen by agents or get auditions for anything, really. So I got tired of waiting around and started writing…and then got up the nerve to actually share what I was writing with other people on stage. The crowd gave me a pretty good response. I felt empowered. I didn’t have to wait for an agent, or a casting director, or anyone else for that matter, to decide when I would be given a time-slot to express myself creatively. If I wanted to get up on stage, I could. It was a very satisfying outlet for me as a performer. And no matter where my life was taking me, I would always go back to it. I would take breaks…explore other things…but I always, always go back to stand-up comedy. I have been for years. It’s like that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup that I can’t say no to. Especially if it’s been in the freezer overnight. If it’s sitting there, I’m going to eat it.

(Q) Where did you grow up? Do you draw from your childhood for material?

(A) I grew up in New Jersey…no apologies necessary. Yes, I do draw material from my childhood. If I’m going to be honest with you, being a kid wasn’t exactly my favorite time in my life. And it’s not to blame anyone, it’s just that the house I grew up in was, well…so SERIOUS. I mean both of my parents are doctors. And we’re not talking chiropractors. My mother is a psychoanalyst and my father is a cardiologist. Things were intense and structured. I think I was always looking around like…where’s the easy-breezy? Where the fun? Sorry mom and dad. I love them very much, but I just wanted to have some laughs! I think that’s why I love doing stand-up comedy and why I am so drawn to the stand-up comedy environment as a whole. I really enjoy watching other comedians. I’m probably one of the biggest laughers at the shows I produce. It’s sheer joy to me.

(Q) Where do you hope to take your comedy in the future?

(A) I think my comedy can take me in a lot of different places. I’m hoping it will always be a compliment to what I also love to do, which is play characters when I work as an actress. I do a lot of improvisational acting on ABC’s “What Would You Do?” and being a standup comedian definitely hones the craft of being able to think quick on your feet. The character of my mother is a thread I weave through my comedy act, and I believe that because of her profession — as much as I joke about it on stage — has made me a very introspective person. I have a deep empathy for people as well as a natural curiosity for what makes people tick. You need to do that type of work as an actress. I explore those things each time I get into the skin of a character I am playing. Comedy is all about expressing who you are and finding your truth. So it keeps me growing and understanding myself better as a person and as a performer.

(Q) Where did you get the idea for “It’s a Charity Thing?”

(A) The owner of Gotham Comedy Club, Chris Mazzilli, is a very charitable person and he mentioned the idea of charity comedy shows when I was trying to figure out the type of show I wanted to produce. I liked the idea of teaming up with charities so that they could have a fun and unique way to raise money, and I could have a partner to work with while promoting the show. I came up with the actual name “It’s a Charity Thing!” from the thought that whenever people are inviting others to shows and it’s a fundraiser, they’ll often forget the name of the charity, and say, “Just come out… it’s a charity thing!” So I thought, why not call it that. And since I wanted to raise money for a different charity each month, it was a good fit.

(Q) What are your thoughts about philanthropy and charities in America?

(A) I greatly appreciate the value of getting involved. Without sounding like I’m on a soap box…or even a soap dish that I didn’t need, but bought at Bed Bath & Beyond because I had a 20% off coupon…it’s nice to take time out to stop worrying about our own problems and see the bigger picture. It’s also quite an education for me to see how many groups are out there that do need help. I’m happy to be a part of it.

(Q) We loved the line up of comedians you had for us at the “It’s a Charity Thing” that you hosted for The Cure is Now. What do the comics think about “It’s a Charity Thing”?

(A) Thank you and they loved you! The comics that I have been having on my shows have been extremely supportive and seem to really enjoy doing the show. I try to keep the show to no more than 6-7 comics doing 15 minutes each so that it’s a strong show for the audience as well as a nice amount of stage time for each comedian.

(Q) The Cure is Now had a blast last night and we look forward to the next “It’s a Charity Thing” we can do together. How did you think it went?

(A) I am so happy with how the event went! Many thanks need to go to Gotham Comedy Club for being such a well-run, professional and enjoyable venue. I am always impressed with their staff for making sure everything runs smoothly and for ensuring all of the guests’ needs are taken care of. It’s a very friendly and welcoming place to be. That means everything when you host an event. Everyone said they had a great time and I would love to work with The Cure Is Now again. We’ll have to set a date!

Hank Pellissier of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies wrote an article about “modern day” medical research and health care and interviewed the Founder of The Cure Is Now about her opinion on the matter. Here is a snippet of the interview.

I email-interviewed AnnMarie Santiago, the founder and Executive Director of The Cure Is Now – our dialogue is below:

AMS: We would like to help lay the groundwork for “Healthcare 2.0” and the evolution of personalized medicine. The Cure is Now will focus on research on the cutting edge that has gone undetected, is underfunded and has a good chance of leading to direct medical application. By fostering an environment of well-funded, well-managed and well-executed research – projects that develop combinations of never-before-seen medical breakthroughs can become the new standard in medicine. We will also work with people interested in making it easier for scientists to invent medical breakthroughs and we will work with a variety of advisors on how to accelerate laws and policies here in the United States that support medical breakthroughs.

Every conceivable new technology that could in some way advance the edge of medicine is being considered and ways to create synergies between these emerging/advanced technologies are being sought.

HP: What are you goals in the next 1 year, 5 years, 10 years?

AMS: In one year, we will begin funding individual research groups. In two to five years we will construct and staff small, efficient research labs in New York City, Cambridge MA, Silicon Valley as well as international research cells… New York is a cultural and financial hub and will soon be a biotech hub. The Boston/Cambridge area is a cradle of scientific innovation and we have identified key leaders in that area who will be a great resource for us. We believe that advances in computer technology will emerge in or close to Silicon Valley. We are additionally focused on international locations because of the research opportunities available there.

In five to ten years, we will fund, construct and staff a world-class research facility that forges collaboration and synergy between emerging science and advanced technology research groups.

HP: Can you provide me with some innovative ideas about what your organization is intending to do?

AMS: The Cure Is Now IS innovation. In fact, our three core values are innovation, synergy and discovery. My team and I have determined that scientific innovation can be broken down into four categories: Curiosity driven research, applied research that leads to direct medical discoveries, synergistic research and not-yet-known types of research. The Cure Is Now will fund these four types of innovative research.

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